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Do I need a license to broker private/hard money loans?

I heard that there is no license needed to broker private/ hard money loans, Is there any truth to this? I know that you don't need one in the commercial sector. Is there one needed in the residential hard mney sector?

I would start by calling your local state banking dept. in your areas that issue licenses for mortgage brokers, lenders, etcc when ask them whom else should you check with to make sure the feds won't be breathing down your back as well, if you are ok and do not need one with the state.

Account Closed

Originally posted by Rob Barney:In Texas you MUST be licensed to originate ANY 1-4 family residential loan.

Good Luck!

Although it was already said, this post is way old and the poster probablly doesnt care anymore, as Ron pointed out, you can create up to 5 loans per year WITHOUT a license, this includes TEXAS, once you hit your 5th loan you now need a license.

It seems to me that it is all depends on who's money is it. If this is your own private money I don't see any reason why wouldn't you be able to lend it to whomever you chose without a license and as long as you disclose the terms of the loan up-front. If this is investment money that you lend to others, i.e. other people's money, the license requirement would make sense.

Im not sure the bout everywhere, but in Texas there was a law effective sept 1, 2007 (156.201 License Required) stating that you need to told a brokers license in order to create 5 loans or more, this includes owner financing and hard money loans
There are some exemptions (156.202) which state an individual who makes a mortgage loan from the individuals own funds. ,
also talks about one who does not regularly engage in the business of making or brokering mortgage loans
one of our recent REIA's we had a lawyer discussing this, and he kept mentioning how theres alot of gray area, and there has not been any cases where this was brought to court,
My undestanding is, if your owner financing the properties, you'd be regularly engaging in the business and could be found guilty. the lawyer wasnt even sure. just dont get caught.
Only way I could see this being bad is if you owner financed 6 or more, and then went to forclose, but the lendee would have to know about this law, and most investors dont even know about this

There was lots of discussion about getting around this, and creating multiple LLC's and such to advoid getting in trouble, but im not sure, there was never a definant answer.

Glad that's cleared up! I'm wondering who is going to be teaching the 6 hours of instruction for loan originators. To HUD a non-conforming loan is one that doesn't meet secondary requirements, has a thirty year amoritization, no balloon payment prior to half the equity being paid down and is fully amortized. I'm afraid that people will be doing sale contracts with a expiration date and the sale contract can be made again if an additional deposit to the purchase price is made. That, or they are going to finance an option contract and never secure it with the property. I might even lower the price a house if the buyer likes one of my paintings, yes, I paint, and they are very expensives, so expensive, to sell one to most people I'd have to finance it!
Alot of what this is about is not a safeguard for consumers as claimed, in my opinion, but a way to make it very hard for the small mortgage broker to survive. If you read the SAFE Act, you'll see that regulators can come in an examine the broker's business. Having been a bank examiner with FDIC, I can tell you that examinations are very expensive. Paying for the exam is put on the party being examined! In addition to that, brokers will have a loan report, like a bank call report which is more time consuming than a tax return. In a bank, only employees and officers with knowledge in preparing the call report may complete the requirement. Another expense. It's really about banks getting rid of some thorns in the side and reducing seller financing. Why, banks want real skin in the game, real equity for a 75% LTV loan, to date, a soft second filled the gap allowing a borrower to get in under the rules, but was more likely to walk away. OK, get a mortgage broker to "originate" the loan for you. Let's look at that. Who says what's in the loan terms, after you pass your mark, if you are not a licensened originator, you're not to discuss loan terms, sounds like it's a take it or leave deal, if you can find a broker in your area willing to do it. You think it will be expensive, you bet it will be, the broker has a liability in your deal now, until it's fully paid! Just wait for a borrower to cry foul. Banks can not assist in underwriting a private loan, for that very reason and they are not a party to the transaction. Wait til you hear your local Habitat For Humanity start crying over this on the 5th house they build and sell! Non-profits are not exempt! That goes for neighborhood assistant programs too!
So, do you need a license? I think you do if you're going to do any business, The SAFE Act is some smoke screen and it's like swating flies with a sledge hammer! Bill

PS. I may lend my talents to lending assistance in providing alternatives to this for the fun of it! HUD is like turning a battleship when I'm bouncing along on a jetski! Been there, done that!

Account Closed

replied over 7 years ago

Originally posted by Scott Ricenbaw:

Originally posted by Rob Barney:In Texas you MUST be licensed to originate ANY 1-4 family residential loan.

Good Luck!

Although it was already said, this post is way old and the poster probablly doesnt care anymore, as Ron pointed out, you can create up to 5 loans per year WITHOUT a license, this includes TEXAS, once you hit your 5th loan you now need a license.

I don't want to get into a dispute...However...You may be able to create up to five per year of your OWN notes. But as of 9/2008, to ORIGINATE any loan in which you are not the seller of the property securing the loan, you MUST be licensed.

Ok, So here is a question since we are on the subject. If my company hold several properties. Can I, as an individual or through another entity, can make a loan financing those properties without having a license?
Another word, I'm the sole proprietary owner of a company that own several properties (All free and clear). Can I finance (i.e. record a loan) those property either myself or through another sole proprietary entity?

Rob-
Would like more info on this if you have it please, attorneys here seem to be behind on this topic.. I was under the impression that hard money lenders did not need to be licensed as long as they did under 5 per year, one way that was discussed getting around that would be doing 5 per year per LLC, and HOPEFULLY never getting caught.. but im pretty sure most HML are gonna do more then 5 per year!

Account Closed

replied over 7 years ago

Scott,

Consult with a Board Certified Real Estate Attorney such as Gaylene Lonergan with http://www.lonerganlaw.com/ or call the Texas Savings and Loan Dept. http://www.sml.state.tx.us/index.html I am 100% sure about the licensing requirements for HMLs in TX.

The documentation on the new SAFE act is pretty good (rare but true). If you read the text related to "Loan Originators" (LO) it says when required (e.g. brokering) and when not needed (fewer than 5 loans/yr using own money unless handled by licensed LO).

NOTE: having a license is necessary in these cases, but NOT sufficient. You need to hang your license with a Mortgage Broker or Mortgage Banker ... or get that license too.

State laws can be stricter ... so they have a link to the state regulations.

Don't you love it ... the banks aren't lending ... and Govt. complicates life for private lenders!

Even though LO's (like me) are registered nationally, we need to have a license in each state we lend.

NOTE: request for loans should go to the separate subgroup on private lending

If you are brokering private money you will more than likely need two licenses. Seems everyone is mostly concerned with the mortgage broker license but you will also need a securities license unless you do a reg D offering or a limited number of transactions. You do not need a securities license if you are brokering your own money or institutional money. This is the information my attorney gave me for my business in CO and I know DORA is looking to crack down on unlicensed private money brokers here.

I have heard that you can get the "finders" designation in Texas for brokering "private money." I think most people just structure the transaction such that the private money finder is a principal in the deal to avoid commission-based licensing (broker dealer) requirements.

It is no different than cutting someone in as a JV partner on a RE deal for finding a buyer. It isn't a commission if the person is a pro rata partner in the deal.

That is my understanding at least. Paying people is okay too as long as you don't tie their compensation to finding money. So you could pay them $100/month or whatever steadily, but not $100 for every $10k raised or some such. That is what I have read and heard at least.

Hi, well we have several issues here, the OP had a key word, "broker". If it's not your money AND you are "in the business" of lending/brokering funds, you need a license in all states, now, as to which license, you'll need to check with your state statutes.

The SAFE Act exempts the five deals, with your own money/properties, not brokering other people's money.

Eddie, very good point and I think you're had! If I follow your comment. By the definition of an owner occupant being exempt, your business entity is not an owner occupant! Perhaps you as an individual could make the loan to the company and secure that with a DOT. Now that the loan is in place, your company might be able to sell it sub-2 with an assumption.

Funding deals is a very sticky thing. SImply calling yourself a "partner" or the deal a joint venture may not cut it. How you structure a deal really doesn't matter, until something blows up and people end up in front of a judge, then your deal will likely be disected. If a "broker" has no other activity in a deal other than passing funds from one hand to another and is to reap a benefit, you're likely a broker regardless of what you want to be known as. The heading on your agreement, the names used to describe yourself does not establish the relationship between the parties in a transaction, the function of the players and the means implemented to facilitate any deal establish your position. If the law requires that you have a license to this and that, and you don have a license, you need to find a way to do your deal without you doing this or that, otherwise, get a license. Bill

hi with regards to the subject of licensing for private money loan for 1-4 family, what if the money is 100% from overseas and no broker solicitation involved? I try to ask Banking Dept of NYS, but they don't answer on this.